Extrusion device



June 24, 1941. E. J. ROTH EXTRUSION DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1940 I 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY June 24, 1941. T 2,245,758

- EXTBUSION DEVICE Fiiedv Doc. 6, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR x Ernesi fiffllll/ 5 M ATTORNEY E. J. ROTH EXTRUSION DEVICE June 24, 1941.

9 Sheets-Sheet s Filed Dec. 6, 1940 June 24,1941.

E. J. ROTH EXTRUSION DEVICE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 6, 1940 INVENTOR Ewes! J Pom BY 1 154 A ORNEY June 24, 1941 'E. J. RbTH EXTRUSION DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY June 24, 1941. E TH 2,246,758

EXTRUS ION DEVI CE Filed Dec. 6, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 9 v 67 W /4Z w g7 ATTORNEY June 24, '1941. I ROTH 2,246,758

EXTRUSIQN DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR i rng sl J. E0272 I ATTORNEY June 24, 1941. v ROTH 2,246,758

EXTRUSION DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR 272K265? J Fol/2 ATTORNEY June 24; 1941. E. J. R OTH EXTRUSION DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1940' 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 m N vm 2% WW Patented June 1941 EST AVAILABLE CUP? UNITED STATES PATENT110FFICE EXTRUSION DEVICE Ernest J. Roth, Nor-wood, N. 1., sssignor to Joe Lowe Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Dehware Application December a, 1940,. Serial No. sea-r97 2o Claims.

s invention relates to improvements in extrusion machines, and more particularly in extruslon machines ol-the die expressing type. It ls particrdarly applicahle for use in the extrusion ol plastic formations of edible products such as raw doughnuts mode lrom hatter. This application l a. contlnuatlon in port of my formerv 2 positive lhstaotoheon in the size ol the ener object to o simple compoot ertrnsloo, he onlclrlr cllsassemhlcd lllr cleaned, and there ed for further use;

Another. ohjeot ertruslon mochlnc construction with hut few and simple wastage oi the plostlc material.

Another object is an extrusion machine which can he reloaded without stopping-the machine.

Other objects will appear from the detailed description which follows. 1

In accordance with this invention the plastic material is deposited in a hopper open to atmosphere at the top, said hopper having an inter mittcntly valved connection with an intermittentlr vented extrusion outlet, and with both the extrusion outlet and the valve closed the pressure helow'the valve is rapidly reduced to a pressure helow atmosphere whereupon said valve is opened to force a. portion of plastic material through the open valve: said valve being then closed to cut oil communication with the hopper and the pressure below said valve is rapidly built up to a pressure substantially above atmosphere whereupon the extrusion outlet is opened to express some of the plastic material through said cntroslonoutlet. "The size of the extrusion may he controlled in a very positive manner regard less GE e viscosity of the-plastic by regulating the internal olr pressure of the extrusion device.

I llnotl'ler ohl ect lo the suhstohtlal elimination of 35 Figs.

In the drawings comprising nine sheets of nineteen figures numbered Figs. 1 to 19 inclusive:

Fig. Us a rear view or the extrusion machine.

Fig. 2 is a side view with certain of the ports shown in vertical cross section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig.3 is a top view of the lower part of the extruslon machine with the hopper hase removed.

o is a vertical cross section taken along the n llnet l of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arr-ores.

t? ls on exploded View of o. commercial form o sell" motelnecl multiple ertrusion ma chine.

he ol the multiple machine 5.

l is perspective t or convenient or sell-contained control. to drive ertruolon machine of l5 ll is a top plan view of chemr Fig. ll ls a side vlew ol the o ternathog valve mechanism of the power molt.

El ls o view cl one side ol the extrusion ma chloe end the. power loll-t osoerohlecl ln opero 1 to is view ol the oppoolte side of the tus oosemhlr cl to lo lncluslve are oldo vlews, some par in section,- of a sleeve cutting die and so'clutch mechainsm thcrelor in tour dlfierent posltlons. t

Fig. l5 ls a diagrammatic view of a. vacuum pressure pump and piping system of the power unit.

l6 and 17 are comparative diagram showing the operation of the extrusion machine during the vacuum and pressure stages respec tlvely of the operating cycle.

Fig. 18 is a vertical cross section of Fig. 6 with 40 the hopper, hopper base plate, and; gasket ln place.

Fig. 19 is a detailed cross sectionalview of the feed unit base plate and supporting bracket.

Like reference characters designate corre- 4 spending parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The hopper 3 for holding the dough or other plastic material is demountchly mounted in the upper open end of a cosine forming a hopper 0 base l. The lower end of the hose l is open to form a valve port 2d the WZtHS whereof may be snitahlr channelled to guide the movement-of a valve in. this instance a slicllne valve [fashioned in the iorm of a knife blade. Surrounding the hopper base is an outerchamber forming an air loo position open an autorooutlc doughnut roa jacket so having a suitable outlet cl detachably connectable to a combined vacuum and pressure system (Fig. 2).

Hopper base i is demountably mountable upon lateral flanges forming the upper face of a lower casing 32, the hopper base and casing 32 being locked together in any preferred manner as by a series of knurl headed bolts 33, the whole being supported by the brackets 5. Lower casing 52 includes a chamber 2 for holding a quantity of dough or other plastic, and the lower end of casing 32, terminates in one or more extrusion outlets 34-34 which may be male threaded to receive the female threaded flared collars 6363 of the tubular extrusion nozzles i6l8.

A forming die for forming plastic formations of any desired shape may be demountably mounted upon each extrusion nozzle iii. For imparting an annular formation to the extruded plastic, a disc it may be screwed upon the lower end of a stem l3 whose upper end is screw threaded to a spider which in turn is either detachably' secured to, or cast as an integral part of, the interior wall of the nozzle i6. Cutter sleeve l5 which has an annular bevelled knife edge 42 is mounted upon the nozzle 85 for axial sliding movement relative thereto, the opening in the cutter sleeve l5 being so proportioned as ter sleeve(s) i5, thereby sliding cutter sleeve(s) i5 axially relative to, extrusion nozzle(s) i8 to reciprocate bevelled knife edge 42 of cutter sleeve i5 to and fro across the bevelled peripheral edge of disc l4.

Air jacket 30 is connected by means of an outlet tl, compound vacuum and pressure gauge indicator 47, pipe line 43, and trip valve with a pump 34 driven by any source of energy such as an electric motor 50. The trip valve 25 is cyclicly operable from position 25 to position 25' (Fig. 2), to alternately connect pipe line 53 leading to the intake or suction side of the pump to pipe line 53 while connecting pipe line 52 leading to the compression side of the pump to atmosphere at exhaust port 54 (position 25); and then connecting pipe line 53 to atmosphere through exhaust port 54 while connecting compressed air pipe line 52 to pipe line 43 and air Jacket 50 (position 25'). By this cycle of operations air jacket is alternately connected to the intake or suction side of pump 44 and then to permit the bevelled knife edge 42 of the cutter sleeve ii to slide downwards. over the bevelled edge of disc I4 thereby closing the extrusion outlet and severing the plastic material 58 (Fig. 1'7) surrounding disc l4 and forming an annulus of plastic material as for example a ring doughnut. The forming die unit consisting of nozzle i6, disc l4, and cutter sleeve it, may be replaced by any other well known type of forming die to produce other formations, such for example, as stick doughnuts. For this purpose the nozzles of the extrusion outlets 36 are male threaded, to receive the female threaded collar 63 of the extrusion nozzles it.

The valve 4 may be provided with an opening 35, and an actuating pin 36 may be mounted across the opening in any suitable manner as by means of screws 37 (see Figs. 2 and 3). Valve 4 may be oscillated in any suitable manner as by a bifurcated lever l3 having bifurcated fingers 89-39 for engaging actuating pin 36. Bifurcated lever iii may be actuated in any suitable way as by a cam i9 mounted upon main drive shaft 9. Cam 69 may operate lever iii through a cam follower 28 against increased tension of a retractile spring 3%? which is anchored at one end to 9. lug formed on valve 3 and at the other end to a lug B5 on extension arm 59, the retractile spring in de-energizing moving valve (3 to its alternate position as the cam pressure is removed. The extent of open movement of the valve 3 may be regulated in any suitable mannor as by varying the position of the cam fob lower 2t in curved slot iii oflever it (Fig. 2). Other forms of cam mechanism such as a box cam and cam follower may be used to operate bifurcated lever is and valve :3, and other forms of valve may be substituted for the sl de valve 5.

Cutter sleeve i5 may be actuated in any pr ferred manner as by a lever 3 and sleeve fort: iii mounted upon a common shaft ii, the lever 5 being operated by a cam follower 92 positioned in a box cam i. The shape or the box earn 7 is such as to cause cam follower 12 to swing lever B so as to raise and lower the for IE! carrying lifting pins i? which engage the annular channel(s) ll of the annular shoulder 5d of the cutto the delivery or compression side of the pump as the trip valve oscillates between position 25 and position 25' (Fig. 2) under control of connecting rod 26, to vary the pressure in air jacket 30 from below to substantially above, atmosphere. The trip valve 25 may be operated in any preferred manner as by means of connecting rod 24, oscillated by means of a slide 23, a pin 22, and a rotating disc 2| which is mounted upon main drive shaft 9.

Cams i9 and i, and disc 2i and its pin 22, are so mounted on main drive shaft 9 as to synchronize the timing of valve 4, cutter sleeve 15, and trip valve 25. Thus at the commencement of the suction or feeding stroke, bevelled edge 42 of cutter sleeve I5 is closed over disc Hi, and while the cutter sleeve remains in this position trip valve 25 is moved into position to connect pipe line J3 via vacuum pipe line 53 with the inlet or suction side of pump 44 to draw compressed air from air jacket 30; valve 4 is now opened thus permitting some of the dough to flow from the hopper 5 into dough chamber 2 (see Fig. 16), whereupon valve t closes again and cuts ofi all communication between hopper 3 and dough chamber 2. At the commencement of the compression or extrusion stroke (Fig. 1'7), trip valve 25 moves into position to connect pipe line 43 via compressed air line 52 and pressure chamber 19 with the delivery or compression side of the pump to rapidly build up pressure in air jacket 3i! thus uniformly subjecting the dough in chamher 2 to the pressure in the air jacket, whereupon cutter sleeve i5 moves axially upward to open the extrusion outlet between nozzle [6 and disc i i, thus permitting a quantity of dough or other plastic material 65 to be forced through extrusion outlet over the disc id; thereupon cutter sleeve i5 moves downwards to close the extrusion outlet and sever the annular formation of extruded plastic from the disc M.

pressure in vacuum pipe line 53 may be regulated by means of hand valve 35 which opens or closes a connection with a perforated intake =52; similarly the number of pounds pressure in compressed air line 52 may be regulated by a pressure regulating valve 38, which may be adjusted, by means of setscrew it and lock nut 55, to relieve pressure in compressed air line 52 whenever said pressure exceeds the amount so selected. The degree of vacuum registered upon compound vacuum and pressure gauge indicator 5? may be regulated, according to the viscosity Thus each extrusion I3 for the bevelled forming disc Id. The shoul der 641 of cutting sleeve I5 has an annular channel wherein the lifting pins I'I-I'l oi fork Iii (Figs. 11 to 14) normally engage to control the telescopic action of cutter sleeve I5 on extrusion nozzle it. All of the forks I!) are freely pivotally mounted upon one common clutch shaft I36 (Fig, 5). Each fork III is provided with a separate clutch (Fig. 5) so that the operation of each cutting and forming die can be independently controlled to selectively operate any or all of the forming and cutting dies as the operator may desire.

E ach clutch (Figs. 13 and 14) consists of two distinct elements namely: a clutch 98, and a clutch pin 94. The forks III, and their respective clutches 88 and clutch pins IN, are all mount-- ed upon onecommon rocking shaft I88 (Figs. 5 and 13), the hubs of the housings 9| of the clutch pins 94 being keyed to the shaft I38, while each clutch 9B and its associated fork II) is freely pivotally mounted upon shaft I38, with an adjustable connection between fork Ill and its clutch 98 to permit adjustment of cutting sleeve I! relative to forming disc I4.

Referring to Figs. -13- and 14, clutch pin St is slidably mounted in housing 9| which is a hollow cylinder. A coiled spring 92 is mounted upon pin 96 between the head '90 of said pin and the shoulder of the housing '9I. A locking pin 95 (Fig. 11) slides in a slot in the housing, but by pulling knob 93 outwards until locking pin 95 of clutch pin 94 clears its slot, the knob 93 may be rotated until locking pin 95 engages the notches cut in the shoulder of housing M (Fig. 13) to lock clutch pin 94 in its disengaged position. In its engaged position the head 9 of clutch pin 9 4i registers in a recess or socket 99 formed in clutch 88 (compare Figs. '13 and 14), and in this position (Fig. 14) clutch pin 98 and clutch 98 rock together upon common rocking shaft We to rock fork Iii, thus raising and lowering the bevelled edge 32 of sleeve cutter 05 past the bevelled edge of the forming disc i l. Adjustable stop '95 engages a common stop bar to limit the forward movement of clutch 98 when clutch pin Si l is disengaged therefrom (Fig. 13), whereby the movement of clutch t8, and "'i? re of fork iii, is arrested, and fork it ont swinging about shaft I38 to an rah would allow lifting pins iii-El to shoulder S6 of sleeve cutter thus nt "1e sleeve cutter from being released at railing into the frying kettle ii-t". pivotlrolt lll passes through the car 88 of a threaded adjusting pin 96 (Fig. 12) to secure the pin to clutch Adjusting pin 95 also passes ough opening in a cross pin I02 which is I .l in pair ofspaced ears 33 formed in one en of fork it, and by varying the position of the upper and lower adjusting nuts 9! and it upon threads of adjusting pin 9%, the size of the opening between the sleeve cutter I5 and forming disc i i may be varied, and the Wis extent of axial travel of sleeve cutter It may be regulated. As each clutch has individual ad- Justments, each cutting and forming die can be separately adjusted. To operate the extrusion machine at maximum capacity all of the clutch pins 84 are engaged in the recesses 89 of their respective clutches 8 (Fig. 14), while to reduce the delivery capacity of the machine one or more clutch pins 84 is disengaged (Fig. 13).

The operation of the extrusion machine unit (Fig. 5) is controlled by a control unit (Fig. 7) positioned beneath the frying kettle IIB (Figs. 9 and 10). The various elements of the control unit are mounted upon a common base I63 (Fig.- 7) which in turn is bolted to the supporting frame of the frying kettle i It (Figs. 9 and 10). The control elements mounted upon base I63 include a gear reduction box IIi'i driven via a v belt-pulley i9. Pulley I09 of the gear reduction box is driven by an electric motor 50 via an adjustable pulley I01 and a V drive belt I08 (Fig. 10). Pressure pump 44 is coupled to one shaft of reduction box II 0, and box cams III and l2I are driven by pulley I09 via a reducing gear train (not shown) in the gear reduction box I'll). Cam follower II2 (Figs. 7 and 9) mounted on one end of bell crank lever H3 follows box cam III to rock shaft H8, thus controlling the back and forth motion of slide alves 4-4; while cam follower I24 (Figs. 7 and 10) mounted on one end of bell 'crank lever I2I, follows box cam I2I to rockshaft I88, thus controlling the telescopic action of the sleeve cutters I5-I5. In the position of cam follower i I2 as shown in Fig. 9, the slide valve l- -l would be partially open (Fig. 6) by way of hell crank lever H3, crank pin H5, connecting rod H lever pin II t, common rocking shack I I8, levers I8-IB, and actuating pins 38 of slide valves 4.

In the position of cam follower I24 shown in Fig. 10, the sleeve cutters Iii-I5 would be closed (Fig. 12) by way of bell crank lever I21, crank pin I2B,connecting rod I29, lever pin I34, level arm I35, common rocking shaft I 36, clutch pin 96, clutch 98, fork I0, lifting pins I'l-I'i, and sleeve cutters Ill-I5. When by the rotation of box cam I2I, cam follower I24 enters the flat V shaped portion 02 of the box cam, bell crank lever E27 rocks to control the up and down tele- 'scopic action of the sleeve cutters I5I5.

Shaft M (Fig. 15) of pump M is connected to the main shaft of reduction box I I0. to cause pump M1 to deliver to compressed air through its delivery port 85 to compressed air line 52, and to create a partial vacuum at its intake port 86 and in vacuum pipe line 63 connected thereto. Oil

' for pump 65 is supplied from a drip oil cup I0.

The degree of vacuum can be regulated by hand valve d5 through an open ended perforated nippie 5i. Nipple 5| is left open so that if the perforations are accidentally covered up, the open end of nipple ill will still connect valve 65 with atmosphere, and the nipples are perforated so that their open ends are accidentally plugged the p. forations will still admit air to valve 15. Baffle plate 8 3 of oil trap 69 prevents any drops of. oil arriecl into compressed air pipe 52 from reaching either alternating valve ll, or vacuum and pressure line 83, or the air chamber hit, or the dough chamber idl, of feed unit (Fig. 5). Pet cool: '52 is used for periodically draining trapped oil from oil trap 59. The pressure of the compressed air is regulated through exhaust port I5 by a valve 38 which is controlled by a regulating knob 73 mounted in the feed unit (Figs. 5and of fibre bushings or fibre washers I85I85. Metal bushing I83 surrounding the shank of bolt I80 serves to keep the fibre bushings I85 in I proper position. To further augment the insulating effect the flanges I94 of base plate I06 is spaced away from the top edge of the side wall of frying kettle II9 so as to leave an air space I9I between flange I94 and the edge of the kettle. The feet of the brackets I45 which support the feed unit are undercut to provide an air space I'I8 between a major portion of the base of each bracket I45 and the surface of base plate I06, and the base of each bracket I45 is permanently insulated from the surface of base plate I06 by means of a fibre pad I19. Suitable machine screws I90 anchor the brackets I45 to base plate I06.

PRINCIPLE or Oransrron Suction or feed stroke Plastic material 55 such as dough batter is put into hopper 3, and valve 4 opens (Fig. 16) to form a, continuous passage between hopper 3 and dough chamber 2 completing one branch of a pressure system which branch is subjected to atmospheric pressure above the head of dough in open hopper 3, while air Jacket 30 and pipe line 43 constitute the other branch of a pressure system which branch is connected via trip valve 25 (Fig. 2) and vacuum line 53 to the intake or suction side of pump 44, so that air jacket 30 is immediately subjected to a pressure below atmosphere by the action of pump 44, hence due to the difference in pressure between the open hopper 3 and the exhausted air jacket 30, plasvacuum-pressure pump 44 results in a proportionate increase or decrease in the capacity of pump 44.

What is claimed is:

1. In an extrusion machine and in combination, a chamber for housing plastic material, said chamber having avalved inlet through which plastic may be admitted into, and a valved outlet through which plastic may be extruded out of, said chamber, a pump, valve mechanism -for interconnecting said chamber and said pump, said valve mechanism being operable to intermittently connect said chamber first with the intake side of the'pump when the inlet valve is open and the outlet valve is closed to rapidly decrease the pressure within said chamber below atmosphere to eflect entry of plastic into the chamber, and then with the delivery side of the pump when the inlet valve is closed to rapidly increase the pressure within said chamber substantially above atmosphere before the outlet valve opens to allow plastic to be extruded through said extrusion outlet, and means for opening and closing said inlet and outlet valves and for operating said valve mechanism in properly timed sequence.

2. In an extrusion machine and in combination, a chamber for housing plastic material, said I chamber having a valve controlled inlet through to intermittently connect said chamber first with tic material fiows downwards from hopper 3 into dough chamber 2 thence upwards into air jacket 30. At the same time trip valve 25 (Fig. 2) connects compressed air line 52 to atmosphere .via port 54. During this suction stroke the extrusion outlet formed between extrusion nozzle I6 and forming disc I4 is closed (Fig. 16) by annular die I5.

Compression or extrusion stroke of extrusion nozzle I0 (Fig. 17) thus allowing a.

quantity of plastic 66 to be forced through nozzle I6 and over disc I4 to form a ring of plastic material; at the same time with the trip valve in the position 25', vacuum line 53 is connected to exhaust 54 to atmosphere. Cutter sleeve I5 now moves downwards until its bevelled edge 42 passes the bevelled peripheral edge of disc I4 and severs the ring of extruded plastic, and

the cycle of operations is repeated.

Whenever handle I04 is turned to operate worm screw I05 and move motor 50 towards or away from V belt pulley I09 to vary the speed of gear reduction box IIO thereby changing the speed of box cams III and I2I, the speed of vacuum-pressure pump 44 which is coupled to the same shaft of the -gear-reduction box as pulley I09, varies in like proportion, so that whenever the operating speed of box cams III and I2I is either increased or .-decreased the corresponding increase or decreasein the speed of the intake side of the pump when the inlet valve is open and the outlet valve is closed to rapidly decrease the pressurewithin said chamber below atmosphere to eflfect entry of plastic into the chamber, and then with the delivery side of the pump when the inlet, valve is closed to rapidly increase the pressure within said chamber substantially above atmosphere before the outlet valve opens to allow plastic to be extruded through said extrusion outlet, means for manually regulating the pressure within said chamber to control the amount of plastic intermittently extruded through said extrusion outlet, and means for opening and closing said inlet and outlet valves and for operating said valve mechanism'in properly timed sequence.

3. In an extrusion machine and in combination, a chamber for housing plastic material, said chamber having a valve controlled inlet through which plastic may be admitted into, and a valve controlled outlet through which plastic may be extruded out of, said chamber, a pump, valve mechanism for interconnecting said chamber and said pump, said valve mechanism being operable to intermittently connect said chamber first with the intake side of the pump when the inlet valve is open and the outlet valve is closed to rapidly decrease the pressure within said chamber below atmosphere to effect entry of plastic into the chamber, and then with the delivery side of the pump when the inlet valve is closed to rapidly increase the pressure within said chamber substantially above atmosphere before the outlet valve opens to allow plastic to be extruded through said extrusion outlet, means for separately regulating the pressure on the intake and on the deliveryfsides of the pump, and means for opening and closing said inlet and outiet valves and for operating said valve mechanism in properly timed sequence. a

-4. Inv an extrusion machine and imcombinapneumatic system provided with a vacuum presbelow atmosphere while the inlet valve is open c and the outlet valve is closed to eilect entry oi plastic into said chamber and then quickly increase the pressure within said chamber snbstantially above atmosphere after the inlet valve is closed and bet'ore the outlet valve is opened to allow plastic to be extruded through said outlet valve, and means for controlling the openingand closinu of said inlet and outlet valves and the operation oi said two-way valve in properly timed sequence.

' 5. in an extrusion machine and in combination a chamber lor housing plastic material, said chamber being provided with an inlet valve connection, an outlet valve connection, and an. air pipe connection; a vacuum pressure source, a compressed air source, a two-way valve connected to said air pipe and operable to intermittently connect said chamber via said air pipe with each oi said sources in succession to first quickly reduce the pressure within said chamber below atmosphere while the inlet valve. is open and the outlet valve is closed thus admitting plastic into'sald chamber, and then quickly increase the pressure within said chamber substantially above atmosphere after closing the inlet valve but before opening the outlet valve to allow plastic to l he extruded through said outlet valve, and means tor controlling the opening and closing of said inlet and outlet valves and the operation of said branches of said two-way valve being adapted to be connectedto the vacuum pressure and compressed air sides respectively of a pnuematlc systern of sufllcient capacity to rapidly change the pressure in said chamber from substantially below to substantially above atmosphere, and a cam shaft for operating each of said valves in properly timed sequence so as to open the inlet valve and move the two-way valve into position to quickly exhaust air from the chamber while,

the outlet valve is held closed thereby rapidly filling the chamber with plastic, and then to close the inlet valve move the two-way valve into position to quickly fill the chamber with compressed air and open the outlet valve to allow plastic'to be extruded from the chamber.

7. An extrusion machine comprising a receivinc-chamber for plastic material, said chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port, an

inlet valve for opening and closing said inlet port to control the admission .of plastic into said chamber, an outlet valve for opening and closing said outlet port to control the extrusion of plastic from said chamber, an air pip connecting with, said chamber, a two-way valve having its common outlet connected to said air pipe, the separate branches of said'two-way valve being adapted for connection to the positive and negative pressure branches respectively of a pneumatic system of sufiicient capacity to rapidly exhaust air from the chamber while the inlet valve is open and the outlet valve remains closed to admit plastic into the chamber, and

then quickly fill the chamber with compressed air with the inlet valve closed before the outlet valve is opened to allow plastic to be extruded from the chamber, means for controlling the movement oi each oi." said valves in properly timed sequence, and means for independently regulating the pressure in each branch of the pneumatic system.

t; In an extrusion. chine and in'combination: a feed unit comprising, a chamber tor housing plastic material, a valved inlet throuah which plastic may be admitted into said chamber, a valved outlet through which plastic may be en truded from said chamber; a control unit separate and distinct from the teed-unit, said control unit comprising, cam mechanism, a vacuumpressure pump, an alternating valve connected to said pump, said cam mechanism and alter I tint: valve being respectively adapted to he mechanically and pneumatically connected to the inlet and outlet valves, and to the chamber, of the feed unit, to operate in properly timed relation to open and close said inlet and outlet valves and to increase and decrease the pressure in said chamber in predetermined cyclic orderto control the periodic admission of plastic into the feed unit chamber, the periodic eutrusion of plastic formations from the feed unit chamber, and the periodic severance oi the plastic extrusions thus formed; means for mechani cally connecting the cam mechanism of the control unit with the valve mechanism oi the feed unit; jmeans for pneumatically connecting the alternatinc valve of the control unit with the feed unit chamber; and means for operating the pump, the alternating valve, and the cam meshanlsm.

9. in an extrusion machine and in combination: a feed unit comprising, a chamber for housing plastic material, a valved inlet through which v plastic may be admitted into said chamber, a

valved outlet including a forming and cutting die through which plastic may be extruded from said chamber and formed and severed by said die; a control unitcomprising, cam mechanism,

, an air pump, an. alternating valve, pipe connections between the opposite sides of said air pump and said alternating valve, said cam mechanism and said alternating valve being respectively adapted to be mechanically and pneumatically coupled to the inlet and outlet valves and to the chamber of the feed unit and to operate in properly timed relation to open and close said inlet and outlet valves and to decrease and increase the air pressure in said chamber in predetermined cyclic order to control the periodic admission of plastic into the feed unit chamber,

source of power for driving the air pump, the alternating valve and the cam mechanism.

10. In an extrusion machine and in combination: a feed unit comprising, a chamber for housing plastic material, a valved inlet through which plastic may be admitted into said chamber, a valved outlet through which plastic may be extruded from said chamber; a control unit comprising, a vacuum-pressure pump, a speed reducer coupled to said pump, cam mechanism and an alternating valve operated by said speed reducer, pipe connections between said alternating valve and the vacuum-inlet and pressure-- outlet of said pump, said cam mechanism and said alternating valve being respectively adapted to be mechanically and pneumatically coupled to the valves and chamber of the feed unit and to operate in properly timed sequence to open and close the valves of the feed 'unit and to vary the air pressure in the chamber below and above atmosphere in predetermined cyclic order to control the periodic admission of plastic into, and the periodic extrusion of measured units of plastic from, the chamber; meansfor mechanically coupling the cam mechanism of the control.

unit with the valve mechanism of the feed unit,

-- and means for pneumatically coupling the alternections between said alternating valve and the;

vacuum-inlet and pressure-outlet of said pump, said cam mechanism and said alternating valve being respectively adapted, to be mechanicallyand pneumatically coupled to the valves and chamber of'the feed unit, and to operate in properly timed sequence, to open and close the valves of the feed unit and to vary the air pressure in the chamber below and above atmosphere, in predetermined cyclic order, to control'the periodic admission of plastic into, and the periodic extrusion of measured units of plastic from, the chamberymeans for mechanically coupling the cam mechanism of the control unit with the valve mechanisms of the feed unit, and means for pneumatically coupling the alternating valve of the control unit with the feed unit chamber.

12. In an extrusion machine and in combination; a feed unit comprising, a chamber for housing plastic material, a valved inlet through which plastic may be admitted into said chamber, a plurality of valved outlets through which plastic may be extruded from said chamber, a shaft operable to actuate said valved outlets, clutch mechanism operable to selectively connect said valved outlets to, and disconnect said valved outlets from, said shaft; a control unit comprising, a plurality of cams, a pump, an alternating valve pneumatically coupled to the intake and delivery sides of said pump, one of said cams being adapted to be mechanically coupled to the feed unit inlet valve, another of said cams, being adapted to be mechanically coupled to the actuating shaft of the valved outlets, said altemating valve being adapted tobe pneumatically coupled to the feed unit chamber, said cams and alternating valve being synchronized to control, the opening and closing of the inlet valve and of any selected outlet valve, and the fluid pressure in the chamber, of the feed unit, in predetermined cyclic order, to control the periodic admission of plastic into the feed unit chamber. and the periodic extrusion of measured units of plastic from, the chamber; means for coupling the cams of the control unit to the inlet valve and to the said actuating shaft of the feed unit, and means for pneumatically coupling the alternating valve of the control unit to the feed unit chamber.

13. In an extrusion machine and in combination: a feed unit comprising, a chamber for housing plastic material, a plurality of valved inlets through which plastic may be admitted into said chamber, a shaft operable to actuate said valved inlets, a. plurality of valved outlets through which plastic may be extruded from said chamber, a shaft operable to actuate said valved outlets, clutch mechanism operable to selectively connect said valved outlets to and disconnect said valved outlets from, said shaft; a control unit, comprising, a plurality of cam actuated bell crank levers, a pump, an alternating valve pneumatically coupled to the intake and delivery sides of said pump, one of said bell crank levers being adapted to be mechanically coupled to the actuating shaft of the valved inlets, another of said bell crank levers being adapted to be mechanically coupled to the actuating shaft of the valved outlets, said alternating'valve being adapted to be pneumatically coupled to the feed unit chamber, said bell crank levers and alternating valve being synchronized to control, the opening and closing of the inlet valves and of any selected outlet valve, and the fluid pressure in the chamber,"of the feed unit, in predetermined cyclic order, to control the periodic admission of plastic into the feed unit chamber, and the periodic extrusion of measured units of plastic from, said chamber; means for coupling the bell crank lovers of the control unit to the valve actuating shafts of the feed unit, and means for pneumatically coupling the alternating valve of the control unit to the feed unit chamber.

14. In an extrusion machine an air Jacket, an air port through which air may be admitted into and exhausted from said air Jacket to vary the pressure therein above arid below atmosphere, a chamber for housing plastic material positioned within said air jacket and defining an inner chamber cooled by the air entering and leaving said air jacket through said air port, the lower end of the inner chamber merging with the air Jacket, a valved inlet through which plastic may be admitted into said chamber when the pressure in the air jacket is reduced below atmosphere, and a plate positioned in the air jacket so as to baflie the flow of plastic into the air port when the pressure in the air jacket falls below atmosphere.

15. In an extrusion machine and in combination, a chamber for housing plastic material, said chamber having a valve controlled inlet, a

valve controlled outlet including a forming and cutting die through which plastic may be extruded from said chamber and formed and severed by said die, and an air port, a two-way valve having its common outlet connecting with said air port, the separate branches of said two-way v valve being adapted for connection to the negative and positive pressure branches respectively of a pneumatic system of sufficient capacity-to alternately reduce and then raise the pressure above atmosphere to in said chamber below and above atmosphere, means for .operating said two-way valve, and means for opening and closing the inlet valve when the chamber pressure is reduced and for opening and closing the outlet valve when the chamber pressure is raised.

16. In an extrusion machine an air jacket, an air port through which air may be admitted into and exhausted from said air jacket to vary the pressure therein above and below atmosphere,

, a chamber i'or housing plastic material positioned within said air jacket and cooled by the changa ing air, the lower end of the inner chamber merging with the air jacket, a valved inlet through which plastic'may be admitted into sai chamber when the pressure in the air jacket reduced below atmosphere, and a valved outlet through which plastic may be extruded from the chamber when the pressure in the air jacket is raised above atmosphere.

17. In an extrusion machine an air. jacket, an

air port through which air may-be admitted into and exhausted from said air jacket to vary the pressure therein abovi: and below atmosphere, a chamber for housing plastic material positioned within said air jacket and cooled by the changing air, the lower end of the inner chamber mer ing with the air jacket, a valved inlet through which plastic may be admitted into said chamber when the pressure'in the air jacket is reduced jacket so as to baiiie the flow of plastic into the air port when the pressure in the air jacket i'alls mera'lnfi with the air jacket, a valved inlet through which plastic may be admitted into said chamber when the pressure in the air jacket is reduced below atmosphere, a plate positioned in the air jacket so as to baflle the flow bi plastic into the air port when the pressure in the air jacket falls below atmosphere, and a'valved outlet including a forming and cutting die through which plastic may be extruded from the chamher when the pressure in the air jacket is raised above atmosphereand is formed and severed by said die.

20. In an extrusion machine and in combination: a feed unit comprising, an air jacket having an air port formed therein through which air may be admitted into and exhausted from said jacket to vary pressure therein above and below atmosphere, a chamber for housing plastic material positioned within said air jacket and cooled by the changing air, the lower end or valved inlet through which plastic may be admitted into said chamber when the pressure in the air jacket is reduced below atmosphere, a

80 below atmosphere, a plate poeltioned in the air 4 below atmosphere, and a valved outlet through whichplastic may be extruded rrom the chamber when the pressure in the air'jacket is raised above atmosphere.

18. In an extrusion machine an air jacket, an airport through which air may be admitted into anexhaustedtromsaidairiackettovarythe pressuretherein above and below atmosphere, a chamber for housing plastic material positioned within said air Jacket and cooled by'the changmg air, the lower end or the inner chamber mergi g with the air Jacket, a valved inlet through which plastic may be admitted into said chamber when the pressure in the air Jacket is reduced below atmosphere, and a valved outlet including a forming and cutting me through which plastic may be extruded from the chamber when the pressurein the air'jacketis raised said die.

betormedandseveredby port.

the chamber mergingwith the air jacket, a

valved outlet including a forming and cutting die through which plastic may be extruded from said chamber and formed and severed by said die when the pressure in the air jacketis raised above atmosphere; a control unit separate and distinct from the feed unit, said control unit comprising, cam mechanism, a vacuum-pressure pump, an alternating valve connected to said pump, said cam mechanism and alternating valve 'being respectively adapted tov be mechanically and pneumatically connected to the inlet and outlet valves, and to the air port, of the feed v\init, to. operate in properly timed relation to open and close said inlet and outlet valves and to vary the pressurein said air Jacket in Predeiermined cyclic order; means for mechanically connectingthecammechanismoithecontrol' unit with the valve mechanism of the teed unit: and means for pneumati connecting the alternating valve of the control unit with the air ERNET J. ROTH. 

